Welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of unchanging truth.

For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street.

Second Samuel records a lament that was composed by David for Saul and Jonathan after they died in battle.

How the mighty have fallen, he said.

We share that same sentiment today, Memorial Day, as we remember the sacrifice

of more than 1.3 million Americans who have lost their lives in war in order to keep us safe and free.

Years ago, Chuck Colson expressed his own reflections on Memorial Day and all that it meant to him.

Here's Chuck Colson.

Memorial Day is when we honor the men and women of our armed services who have made the

supreme sacrifice, who gave their lives for their country. Especially these days, when Memorial

Day seems to be nothing more than a time for cookouts and swim parties, we cannot be reminded

often enough about how great a debt we owe our war dead. They give up their hopes

and dreams, families and friends. They submitted themselves to rigorous discipline, something I understand

as a former Marine, 24 hours a day duty, and place their lives in great peril. Great a love has no one

than this that he lays down his life for his friends. Their sacrifice ought to inspire

in us a profound sense of gratitude, gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, bought with a price,

and that gratitude should compel us to live lives of service, as well as serving Christ,

our neighbor, and yes, our nation. I can't help but recall the brilliant film saving Private

Ryan.

James Ryan, now in his 70s, has returned with his family to the military cemetery in Normandy.

He visits the grave of Captain John Miller, the man who, half a century earlier, led the mission to retrieve and save Private Ryan.

At the end of the mission, Miller was fatally wounded as he lay dying, leaning against a

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